Page 114 of Empire of Temptation

“I will explain everything later, figlia mia, when you and I are safely away. Now, let’s go.”

“You’re crazy. And dangerous.” I put up my palms and tried to get in front of Roberto. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Then I will kill your friend here. Is that what you want? For people to die, Valentina?”

“Don’t do it, Val,” Roberto said softly. “Don’t believe him. Stay here.”

“I-Is Luca okay?” My mouth was dry, my tongue thick with worry, but I had to know. “Did you kill him?”

“He is fine. No one was hurt. There, are you happy? The mob boss lives—for now. But I promise I will kill him and your restaurant man here if you do not follow me.” Flavio aimed the gun at Roberto’s leg and there was a puff of air.

Roberto went down, collapsing in a howl of pain.

Holy shit! My crazy father shot Roberto.

I knelt down, unsure what to do. I’d seen injuries in the kitchen, but never gunshots. “Are you okay? Oh, my god. Roberto, talk to me.”

“Stings,” he said from behind clenched teeth.

“Fuck.” I straightened and discovered Flavio now standing much closer. “You psycho! I can’t believe you just shot him!”

“It’s nothing. A tiny scrape. But the next bullet is in his head unless you come with me. Andiamo, figlia.”

“No, Val,” Roberto said from behind clenched teeth, his hand gripping his leg to stem the bleeding. “Let him kill me. Don’t go with him.”

How could I allow that? Luca, his brothers, Roberto . . . How many people was Flavio willing to hurt to get to me? I cared about these people—lovedone of these people. I couldn’t let them come to more harm because of my stubbornness, not when I had the power to save them.

I inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly. “Okay, I’ll come. Just let me call to get Roberto help.”

“No. In fact, give me both of your phones.” He waved the gun. “Toss them over on the ground. Hurry.”

I glanced down at Roberto, who was watching me with a defiant expression. “It’s okay,” I told him. “He won’t hurt me. Give him your phone.”

“No, signorina—” Then he gasped and squeezed his eyes shut in pain.

I took my phone out of my pocket. “Yes, Roberto. Throw over your phone. It’s okay. Someone will come along soon.” The firemen, at the very least.

I threw my phone at my father. Reluctantly, Roberto did the same. “Stall him,” Roberto said under his breath.

“Tell Luca where I went,” I whispered back.

“Let’s go,” my father ordered as he slipped the two phones into his pants. “This way.” He gestured toward the woods. I lifted my chin and forced my feet to move. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t want to leave Roberto, but I knew staying was certain death for my friend. I could only hope that someone would find him soon. Then paramedics could treat his wound and end his suffering.

“If Benetti comes for her, I will kill him,” Flavio warned over his shoulder as we reached the tree line. “Tell him to stay the fuck away from my daughter.”

Roberto said nothing and the forest quickly swallowed us up. It was quiet and shady, the canopy of trees concealing us from the world. “Go right,” my father said behind me. “I have an ATV waiting not far from here.”

My feet crunched on the leaves and sticks as I walked forward.The trees grew denser, the air cool and musty, and a true bolt of fear went through me. Even if I managed to run away from him, I could get lost here. I wasn’t the outdoorsy type. I could handle the restaurant like a champ, but my sense of direction was terrible and I had zero survival skills.

Thank goodness he wouldn’t hurt me. At least, I didn’t think he would.

I stepped over a rotted log. “What are you hoping to accomplish, Flavio?”

“You need someone to save you from yourself.”

“Oh, and you’re the best person to do that?” I made a scoffing noise in my throat. “Please. No wonder my mother wanted to keep you away from me.”

“You think you know things, figlia, but you don’t.”

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